LEAVING BENTSEN, DARRELL'S B'DAY, VISITING FRIENDS, NEW MEXICO

I STARTED DOING MY FALL HOUSECLEANING, GETTING VACCINES FOR MAGGIE AND MARLEE AND GETTING THEIR NAILS CLIPPED FOR THE LAST TIME IN HARLINGEN. I STEPPED ON A MESQUITE THORN AROUND THIS TIME, WENT RIGHT THROUGH MY SHOE, FOOT HURT AND SWELLED, I COULD HARDLY WALK. WE SCRUBBED THE TRUCK AND FIFTH WHEEL FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, WE WERE ANXIOUS TO GET ON THE ROAD!

ALL SUMMER I WANTED TO PUT MAGGIE AND MARLEE IN THE SWIMMING POOL TO SEE IF THEY COULD SWIM, I FINALLY GOT THE CHANCE ONE EVENING.

SAID GOODBYE TO HANNAH AND JOEY, TOM AND JAN, PROMISING TO STAY IN TOUCH. ON SEPTEMBER 10TH WE LEFT BENTSEN PALM VILLAGE RV PARK AFTER BEING THERE FOR FIVE MONTHS. WE WERE HEADED TO SAUGUS, CALIFORNIA TO SELL PUMPKINS AND CHRISTMAS TREES FOR BENNETT'S BEST. WE DIDN'T HAVE TO BE THERE UNTIL THE FIRST OF OCTOBER, SO WE WERE GOING TO DO A LITTLE VACATIONING. 

 MAGGIE AND MARLEE WERE ANXIOUS TO GO TOO!

WE HAD RESERVATIONS IN KERRVILLE AT BUCKHORN LAKE  RESORT. WE WERE HEADED TO TEXAS HILL COUNTRY.

THE NEXT DAY, SEPTEMBER 11, DARRELL TURNED 70 YEARS OLD!! WE WENT SWIMMING AND HOT TUBING, FIRST THING IN THE MORNING.

THEN, WE TOOK MAGGIE AND MARLEE OVER TO THE DOG PARK. IT WAS A COOLER DAY, THE FIRST ONE WE HAD SEEN IN A LONG TIME.

I MADE DARRELL A TURKEY DINNER FOR HIS BIRTHDAY DINNER.  WE DECIDED NEXT YEAR WE WANT TO SPEND HIS BIRTHDAY IN HERSHEY, PENNSYLVANIA AT THE RV SHOW. IT'S A DATE!!! 

WE LEFT SATURDAY MORNING, HEADING FOR VAN HORN, TEXAS TO VISIT MARY AND JIM TAYLOR, A COUPLE WE MET AT ADVENTURELAND. I COULDN'T WAIT TO SEE MARY, WE HAD STAYED IN TOUCH SINCE LEAVING ADVENTURELAND. IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THEM!

JIM HAD A SILLY, BUT COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS CAR ACCIDENT THIS SUMMER, WE HAD THIS SHIRT MADE FOR HIM TO COMMEMORATE IT. 

WE  GOT TO MEET THEIR DAUGHTER, SHELLY AND HER TWO BOYS. I WENT TO CHURCH WITH MARY AND GOT TO MEET HER CHURCH FAMILY. ON MONDAY MORNING WE HEADED TO  LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO. 

WE PULLED INTO HACIENDA RV RESORT ABOUT 1:00. THIS IS ALSO A BEAUTIFUL PARK. WE HAD DECIDED BEFORE LEAVING BENTSEN PALM THAT WE WANTED TO KEEP THE DRIVING AROUND 200 MILES A DAY.

WE WERE RIGHT ACROSS THE INTERSTATE FROM WALMART......BLISS!! WE HAD HEARD A WEATHER REPORT AND THIS AREA WAS EXPECTING RAIN FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS, THERE WERE FLOOD WARNING OUT ALL AROUND US.  THIS AFTERNOON, THOUGH, IT WAS STILL A NICE DAY.  WE DECIDED WE SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT, AND AFTER GETTING SET UP WE DROVE OVER TO MESILLA.

WE FOUND A LITTLE SHOP THAT SOLD ALL KINDS OF PRODUCE.

 IT STARTED RAINING DURING THE NIGHT AND RAINED ALL THE NEXT DAY. THIS IS WHAT THE DOG WALK LOOKED LIKE AFTER ALL THE RAIN.

IT WAS STORMY THE WHOLE TIME WE WERE IN LAS CRUCES, WE HAD PLANNED ON DRIVING UP AND SEEING THE WHITE SANDS, BUT DECIDED AGAINST IT WITH ALL THE FLOOD WARNINGS.

 WE WENT SHOPPING, I BOUGHT ME A NEW PAIR OF JEANS, AND LEARNED TO HEM JEANS. WE HAD STAYED IN NEW MEXICO A COUPLE OF OTHER TIMES, AND I DIDN'T LIKE NEW MEXICO, BUT AFTER STAYING IN LAS CRUCES, I HAVE CHANGED MY MIND.  WE FOUND A LITTLE CAFE THAT MAKES ALBURQUEQUE TORTILLA SOUP, WE STOPPED BY AND GOT ME A HUGE CONTAINER. IT WAS DELICIOUS!!

REFRIGERATOR, CASITAS,

ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 5 WE TOOK GUSTOW IN TO HAVE A NEW COOLING UNIT PUT IN OUR REFRIGERATOR. WE HAD TO BE THERE BY 8:00 AND THEY SAID WE WOULD HAVE IT BACK BY 4:00. TOM SAID WE COULD HANG OUT IN A CASITA FOR THE DAY.

WE ENJOYED THE CASITA, MAGGIE AND I PLAYED BALL MOST OF THE DAY.

 WE PICKED UP  OUR 5TH WHEEL UP AT 6:00. OPENED THE DOOR.......THEY HAD DAMAGED MY REFRIGERATOR DOOR!!!

WOW!! THEY HAD REALLY DONE A JOB ON IT!! DARRELL FOUND THE SERVICE MANAGER....THEY ARE ORDERING US A NEW DOOR. WE WERE TOLD TO NOT PUT ANYTHING IN THE FRIDGE FOR 24 HOURS. WHEN WE WENT TO BED IT WAS 60 DEGREES, WHEN WE GOT UP IT WAS 60 DEGREES. THEY CAME OUT AND DID A FEW THINGS, NOTHING WORKED. FOUND OUT A COUPLE DAYS LATER THAT DOMETIC IS REPLACING THE COOLING UNIT. THEY HAD TO ORDER THE UNIT, IT WOULD BE ANOTHER 10 DAYS OR SO.
 HANNAH AND HER HUSBAND LEFT THE RV PARK ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, HEADED 45 MINUTES DOWN THE ROAD, CLOSER TO HIS WORK. SHE STILL PLANS ON COMING IN SO WE CAN WALK. I WILL MISS HER NOT BEING HERE. SHE AND JOEY WERE GREAT WALKING PARTNERS!!

 I WAS STILL SEEING THE ARMADILLO BABIES ALMOST EVERY DAY.

THEY WERE REALLY GROWING!!

THE SECOND SUPER MOON OF THE SUMMER WAS  AUGUST 11. IT WAS ALSO A BIG BRIGHT MOON!!

MARLEE TURNED SEVEN YEARS OLD ON AUGUST 18TH.

SHE LOVES HER NEW TOY!!

ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20, WE TOOK THE RV BACK TO HAVE ANOTHER COOLING UNIT PUT IN. TOM WAS NICE ENOUGH TO LET US HANG OUT IN ANOTHER CASITA.

WE WERE PLEASED TO SEE WHEN WE PICKED IT UP, THAT ALL THE DAMAGE HAD BEEN FIXED AND EVERYTHING LOOKED GOOD!

THE TEMPERATURE WAS 60 DEGREES WHEN WE WENT TO BED.....IT WAS 40 DEGREES THE NEXT MORNING!!!! WOW!! IT'S WONDERFUL HAVING A WORKING REFRIGERATOR AGAIN!!

I FOUND A WONDERFUL DENTIST HERE AND HAD MY TEETH CLEANED AND X-RAYS DONE  AND THE BEST PART, WAS GETTING IT ALL DONE IN ONE DAY!!

KAYAKING ON THE LAGUNA MADRE

SO, ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, WE LEFT HOME AT 6:00, THE WEATHER FORECAST WAS IN THE TRIPLE DIGITS AGAIN. WE TOOK LOTS OF SUN SCREEN AND WATER!  WE GOT LOST, THANKS TO A BRIDGE BEING CLOSED! WE SAW COTTON GROWING IN THE FIELDS ALONG SIDE THE ROAD.

WE KNEW MRS. GARMIN HAD TO BE WRONG WHEN SHE DIRECTED US TO DRIVE THROUGH THIS COTTON FIELD!

WE GOT TURNED AROUND AND BACK ON THE ROAD, HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND SPOTTED A LADY OUT WALKING HER DOG. SHE GAVE US GOOD DIRECTIONS AND FINALLY MADE IT, THE LAST TO ARRIVE.

WE WATCHED A FILM ABOUT THE LAGUNA ANTASCOSA AND LEARNED THAT IT WAS SPANISH FOR "MUDDY LAGOON".  WE WERE ALL LOADED INTO A VAN FOR THE RIDE TO THE WATER, AND ON THE WAY WE LEARNED ABOUT THE REFUGE. IT IS HOME TO 12 OCELOTS.....5 FEMALES AND 7 MALES.

WE FOUND IT INTERESTING AND HAD NEVER HEARD THIS BEFORE....IT IS ALSO HOME TO THE NILGAI ANTELOPE, AND  YOU ARE ALLOWED TO HUNT THEM HERE, CERTAIN TIMES OF THE YEAR.

THEY ARE HUGE AND SUPPOSED TO BE REALLY GOOD EATING. THEY WERE IMPORTED HERE FROM INDIA BY THE KING RANCH. FINALLY WE REACHED THE WATER!!

AND WHILE THE GUIDES WERE UNLOADING THE KAYAKS, WE GOT TO EXPLORE!

AND OF COURSE......A SELFIE!!

IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY, NOT TOO HOT YET AND THE VIEWS WERE MAGNIFICIENT!

WE WERE GIVEN A FEW INSTRUCTIONS ON PADDLING, AND WERE CAUTIONED ABOUT NOT TEARING UP  THE SEAGRASS GROWING ON THE OCEAN FLOOR.THESE WERE TANDEM KAYAKS,  IT WAS VERY SHALLOW AND THE GUIDE TOLD US WHO WOULD SIT IN THE FRONT, AND WHO WOULD SIT IN THE BACK. THE FRONT PERSON WOULD DO THE STEERING, THE BACK PERSON WOULD SAY WHICH WAY TO GO. I WAS IN FRONT, DARRELL BACK. COMPLETELY BACKWARDS TO ME.  THE GUIDE GOT A KICK OUT OF US!!  THE ARGUMENT WAS ON FROM THE GITGO! IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL RIDE, WE PADDLED FOR TWO HOURS. MY SHOULDERS STARTED TO ACHE, AND I WAS HAPPY TO GET BACK TO SHORE, BUT I LOVE KAYAKING....JUST NOT THE PADDLING!!

THE GUIDES WERE STRICTLY VOLUNTEERS AND WE WERE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN HOW TO KAYAK IN SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.

SUPER MOON, DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT, BABY ARMADILLOS

THE FIRST SUPER MOON OF THE SUMMER WAS JULY 12.

IT WAS A HUGE, BRIGHT MOON!  I  WANTED TO GET MY YEARLY CHECKUP OVER WITH BEFORE LEAVING HERE, SO TALKED TO KAT, A NURSE STAYING HERE, . SHE RECOMMENDED THE  RESIDENT'S CLINIC. DR. MENDEZ WAS VERY NICE, AND VERY HAPPY WITH MY HEALTH!! I HAD MY BLOODWORK AND  MAMMOGRAM DONE AND EVERYTHING WAS GOOD!!  AROUND THE MIDDLE OF JULY,  HANNAH AND I STARTED VOLUNTEERING AT THE FOOD BANK. WE GOT INTO A ROUTINE, WE WOULD GO AT 2:00 AND HELP BAG FOOD. ON THE 18TH OF JULY, I LOOK OUT THE WINDOW AND THERE ARE FOUR BABY ARMADILLOS IN MY YARD.....I GUESS THE ARMADILLO I HAD BEEN SEEING WAS ACTUALLY A GIRL ARMADILLO.

 ARMADILLOS ARE NOCTURNAL...BUT YET, HERE THEY WERE OUT IN THE BROAD DAYLIGHT! THEY WERE LIVING UNDER THE OFFICE. ONE MORNING, I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SEE MAMA AND THREE OF THE BABIES, HEADED OVER TO THE STATE PARK.  SHE MUST HAVE BEEN TEACHING THEM. IT WAS CUTE, WISH I HAD MY CAMERA. I PRETTY MUCH SAW THEM ON A DAILY BASIS. I WANTED TO KEEP IT A SECRET, BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID SOMEONE WOULD WANT TO KILL THEM. SO, I WOULD LET THEM BE OUT FOR A  WHILE AND THEN I WOULD TAKE THE HOSE TO THEM. THE OLDER THEY GOT, THE MORE STUBBORN THEY GOT. THEY WERE HUNGRY AND WANTED TO EAT!!

I THOUGHT THEY WERE CUTE! I WANTED SO MUCH TO TOUCH ONE, BUT I HAD BEEN WARNED THAT  THEY COULD  CARRY DISEASE. OUR REFRIGERATOR HAD BEEN ACTING UP FOR A WHILE, AND THE TRUCK HAD A SERVICE LIGHT COME ON. FINALLY, HAD TO TAKE THE TRUCK IN TO THE SHOP. IT WAS THE  TURBO.  IT WAS AN EXPENSIVE FIX, BUT THANK GOODNESS, IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY UNTIL NOVEMBER.
WE RENTED A CAR FOR A WEEK. I HAD FUN DRIVING THAT LITTLE CAR AROUND FOR THE WEEK!
 DARRELL CALLED DOUG BENNETT AROUND THIS TIME TO SEE IF HE WOULD HAVE A PUMPKIN AND CHRISTMAS TREE LOT FOR US. HE SAID HE WOULD CALL US BACK, HE HAD TO CHECK ON A FEW THINGS. DOUG CALLED BACK AND SAID HE WOULD HAVE BOTH FOR US!! WE ARE GOING TO CALIFORNIA!!!.
ONE DAY HANNAH AND I WERE TALKING AND I ASKED HER IF SHE KNEW HOW TO SEW.....SHE SAID NO, BUT SHE'D LIKE TO LEARN, SO ONE AFTERNOON I TOOK MY SEWING MACHINE OVER TO HER HOUSE AND TAUGHT HER HOW TO MAKE THE TOWELS THAT I MAKE TO HANG IN THE KITCHEN. SHE WAS A NATURAL!!  I LEFT THE MACHINE WITH HER A FEW DAYS....SHE MADE QUITE A FEW TOWELS ALL  ON HER OWN.

ALL SUMMER IN THE PAPER I HAD BEEN READING ABOUT A GUIDED  KAYAK TOUR  AT THE ANTACOSA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE. IT WAS 88 MILES FROM HERE, ON THIS SIDE OF SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, WHICH IS CALLED LAGUNA  MADRE.  HANNAH OFFERED TO LET THE DOGS IN AND OUT THAT DAY, SO I MADE RESERVATIONS FOR FRIDAY, AUGUST 1. ALL LAST SUMMER I WANTED TO KAYAK, BUT DARRELL THOUGHT IT WAS TOO COLD IN WASHINGTON. I WAS FINALLY GONNA GET TO KAYAK!!
BY THE END OF JULY IT WAS IN THE TRIPLE DIGITS EVERY DAY. HANNAH AND I STARTED WALKING AT 7:30 INSTEAD OF 8:00 AND SOME MORNINGS IT WAS TOO HOT AT 7:30, BUT, WE DID IT EVERY OTHER DAY!!!
OUR FRIEND, BONNIE, WHO IS A DECORATIVE ARTIST SENT US A SIGN SHE MADE FOR US.....I LOVE IT!!

 SHE DID A BEAUTIFUL JOB! CAN'T GET OVER HOW MUCH THE FIFTH WHEEL LOOKS LIKE OUR FIFTH WHEEL. BONNIE IS SO CLEVER......SHE INCLUDED AN ARMADILLO BY THE SIGN!!

MEXICO, 4TH OF JULY, 49 YEARS, NEW MANAGERS

WE WERE GOING TO MEXICO AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH. WE WERE SURPRISED AT THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE. WHEN WE DECIDED TO STAY THE SUMMER, WE FIGURED PROGRESSO WOULD BE A GHOST TOWN.

THERE WERE ALOT OF PEOPLE....ONLY DIFFERENCE WAS THEY WERE ALL TEXAS LICENSE PLATE. WE BOUGHT MOVIES AND VANILLA. WE HAD A ROLL AT RENEE'S. YUMMY!

THE WEATHER HAD BEEN GREAT, THERE HAD  ONLY BEEN  A FEW DAYS IN THE TRIPLE DIGITS. THERE IS USUALLY A COOL OCEAN  BREEZE BLOWING, THAT'S WHAT MAKES THE TEMPERATURES BEARABLE. I WAS WALKING IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS. ONE MORNING AT 7:00 A.M. IT WAS 81 DEGREES WITH A HUMIDITY OF 85%. YOU DID WHAT YOU NEEDED TO DO IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OR IN THE EVENING, THE REST OF THE TIME YOU STAY IN THE AIR CONDITIONER OR HANG OUT IN THE POOL, WHICH WE DID ALOT!
IN THE AFTERNOONS I WOULD TURN ON THE SPRINKLER AND WATCH THE  BIRDS GATHER!

THEY PLAY JUST  LIKE KIDS PLAYING IN A SPRINKLER! TOWARDS THE MIDDLE OF JUNE,  DAVID  TOLD DARRELL  THEY HAD GIVEN THEIR NOTICE AND  WOULD BE  LEAVING BY  THE 5TH OF JULY. WE WERE DISAPPOINTED, WE HAD BECOME FRIENDS.  BY NOW, I WAS WALKING 3 TIMES A WEEK, USUALLY 3 MILES AND BIKING AT LEAST 3 MILES 3 TIMES A WEEK. I WAS GETTING FIT!!! WE OFFERED TO HELP DAVID AND SUSAN LOAD THE U HAUL. THEY INSISTED ON TAKING US OUT TO DINNER THE 3RD. OF JULY.  THEY GAVE US A REALLY NICE CARD AND THIS CERTIFICATE OF MERRIT.

JULY 4TH I MADE A BIG DINNER......

AND THAT EVENING WENT AND WATCHED THE FIREWORKS DISPLAY IN MCALLEN.

 WE SAID GOODBYE TO DAVID AND SUSAN ON  MONDAY, JULY 7, AND PROMISED TO STAY IN TOUCH. WE WILL MISS THEM!!

NEW MANAGERS, TOM AND JAN TOOK OVER THAT SAME DAY. WE CELEBRATED OUR 49TH WEDDING ANNIVERSAY THE NEXT DAY. WE WENT OUT TO EAT AT JOE'S CRAB SHACK. IT WAS DELICIOUS!!

 AND DARRELL BOUGHT ME THIS ARMADILLO.....I LOVE IT!!